By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team had a short memory as the Beavers pounded out 32 runs in a sweep of Transylvania on Sunday, April 30, 2023. The Beavers took two critical Heartland Conference victories in dominant fashion against the top pitching squad in the conference, putting on an offensive showcase while winning the first, 15-10, and then stomping out any Transy hopes of a split with a 17-2 mercy-rule obliteration in game two. Bluffton improved to 20-14 overall and 12-6 in conference play, while the Pioneers fall to 20-16 with a 12-6 mark in the HCAC. The two squads are now tied for 2nd in the HCAC with four games to play.
Along with two incredibly important victories, the Beavers also celebrated the accomplishments and dedication of 12 different seniors in between the two games. The seniors recognized were Eddie Hardaway (Englewood/Northmont), Jack Towell (Batavia/West Clermont), Nick Diana (Batavia/West Clermont), Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start), Nathaniel DeWeese (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson), Adam Yoh (Milford), Jacob Boelkens (Millbury/Lake), Reid Whitney (Harrison), Jaden Jaques (New Palestine), Josh Slade (Cincinnati/Madeira), Miles Frey (Kirby/Riverdale) and David Hetrick (Fremont/Ross).
Both teams started the lidlifter in epic fashion when the leadoff hitter for Transy, Trent Youngblood, homered to open the game as the visitors went up 3-0 in the top of the first. Not to be outdone, the Beavers also came ready to play when Diana dialed in and sent a ball over the fence in left center. Diana's grandpa was watching him play for his first time at Bluffton, sitting in the front row when Nick drilled his second homer of the season! Baumgartner crossed the dish following a single from Justin Maurer (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) and Towell took advantage of a wild pitch to score and even things up at three apiece after the first frame.
Transylvania scored in the top of the third, but Maurer was able to get home in his team's half of the fourth courtesy of a Hovest single and it was tied back up at four apiece.
The fifth frame is where the Beavers began to get rolling again, scoring four runs while taking an 8-6 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Towell sparked a Bluffton offensive with an RBI base knock to third. Diana got out ahead and beat the catcher to home plate on a wild pitch. With Baumgartner on third and Towell on second, Mauer smacked a two-run single to left field, scoring both runners!
After the visiting team put up three more runs in the top of the sixth, Baumgartner connected perfectly for a double to right center with the bases filled, driving in three runs and putting Bluffton up for good!
The Beavers added four more tallies an inning later thanks to a solid base hit from Austin Francis (Troy/Miami East) for an RBI as well sacrifice flies from Carson Kindred (Brookville/Troy Christian) and Diana. The Bluffton defense was up to the task, allowing only one more run on the way to a 15-10 win!
Baumgartner and Maurer were on fire in game one, driving in three runs apiece, with Baumgartner going 3-of-4 at the dish. Diana drove two runners home as well.
Andrew Collinsworth (Westerville/Westerville South) pitched the first 5.1 innings, striking out five batters, but he did not factor in the decision. Sophomore Nathan Young (Copley) improved to 2-0 as Bluffton took the lead while he was on the hill and he fanned five Pioneers for all five of his outs!
The second game was over almost before it started thanks to an 11-run Bluffton outburst in the first frame en route to a 17-2 demolition!
In an inning that saw 17 plate appearances for the home team, Towell drove in four runs with a two-run double and two more with a two-run single. Hovest and Yoh each notched RBI base slaps, and Francis was able to launch a triple to right center that plated Deitering and Hovest. Maurer also got in on the action with an RBI two-bagger that scored Baumgartner.
Bluffton scored single runs in the second and third and then added four more in the fifth frame to put the icing on the cake. Kenny Schneider (Sunbury/Big Walnut) doubled down the right field line for an RBI. Francis then picked him up with a single to left. Deweese capped off the scoring with a mile-high shot down the right field line, adding a two-run double to bury the Pioneers, 17-2.
Towell led the way with his amazing senior night performance, going 3-for-4 with five RBI's. His second hit of the first inning sent him past Nick Broyles for the Bluffton single-season RBI mark! He stands at 51 after surpassing the 49 that Broyles put up in 2010. Francis added four RBI's as well. Deweese and Schneider each scored two runners with their hits.
Wyatt Groves (Marengo/Highland) put up his second outstanding performance in four days, moving to 2-1 with the win and allowing only one run on five hits in six innings of work!
The Beavers will be back at Memorial Field when they welcome Rose-Hulman for a graduation weekend treat on Friday, May 5. Bluffton will look to ride the momentum into two more wins with the first game slated for 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
